This is how it turned out. Concrete with an accent of flagstone; seatwall w/concrete cap; artificial turf; D.G. pathway; raised wooden garden boxes. By Tony Vitale

This project presented very unique challenges: the customer wanted to "open" the kitchen to the living room so that the room could be inclusive, while not losing the vital pantry space. The solution was to remove the former load bearing wall and pantry and build a custom island so the profile of the doors and drawers seamlessly matched with the current kitchen. Additionally, we had to locate the granite for the island to match the existing countertops. The results are, well, incredible!

At the beginning of the design process, the homeowners requested a simple and elegant home. They had collected wonderful and exquisite items from their travels around the world, and wanted a simple backdrop to showcase them. The pallet of cream, brown and white was combined with elegant arched doorways, large windows and sculptural light fixtures for a timeless home. Detailed construction documents were vital in communicating their needs and design changes along the way so that the final product reflected their vision. The homeowners favorite room in this house is the kitchen with expansive views of the whole home and space for entertaining friends from near and far.

Preparation for the project will deal with determining the exact placement of the center line for the new appliance. This will determine where the face frames, cabinet floor, and other components will be cut. This project had the built in place cabinetry common to older homes. This required that consideration be taken to brace the cabinet floors at the points where there new end panels will be installed. As with any project, very careful planning and layout is vital. Small details not taken into account can add considerable time, expense, and frustration to account for. Here, the run of cabinets will have 3/4 end panels installed on each side of the range opening. Measurements not properly verified will leave you in a situation in which the raw end of the plywood end panel would be visible. The other challenge here is the size difference between the 36" cooktop and the standard 30" common range to replace it. Carefully remove the center stile and make clean square cuts on the rails so the removed material can be utilized when/if needed. Johnnie McCormick

Photo by Nick Vitale
Inspiration for a timeless beige tile and stone tile bathroom remodel in DC Metro with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops and a two-piece toilet

This project presented very unique challenges: the customer wanted to "open" the kitchen to the living room so that the room could be inclusive, while not losing the vital pantry space. The solution was to remove the former load bearing wall and pantry and build a custom island so the profile of the doors and drawers seamlessly matched with the current kitchen. Additionally, we had to locate the granite for the island to match the existing countertops. The results are, well, incredible!

Constructed in two phases, this renovation, with a few small additions, touched nearly every room in this late ‘50’s ranch house. The owners raised their family within the original walls and love the house’s location, which is not far from town and also borders conservation land. But they didn’t love how chopped up the house was and the lack of exposure to natural daylight and views of the lush rear woods. Plus, they were ready to de-clutter for a more stream-lined look. As a result, KHS collaborated with them to create a quiet, clean design to support the lifestyle they aspire to in retirement. To transform the original ranch house, KHS proposed several significant changes that would make way for a number of related improvements. Proposed changes included the removal of the attached enclosed breezeway (which had included a stair to the basement living space) and the two-car garage it partially wrapped, which had blocked vital eastern daylight from accessing the interior. Together the breezeway and garage had also contributed to a long, flush front façade. In its stead, KHS proposed a new two-car carport, attached storage shed, and exterior basement stair in a new location. The carport is bumped closer to the street to relieve the flush front facade and to allow access behind it to eastern daylight in a relocated rear kitchen. KHS also proposed a new, single, more prominent front entry, closer to the driveway to replace the former secondary entrance into the dark breezeway and a more formal main entrance that had been located much farther down the facade and curiously bordered the bedroom wing. Inside, low ceilings and soffits in the primary family common areas were removed to create a cathedral ceiling (with rod ties) over a reconfigured semi-open living, dining, and kitchen space. A new gas fireplace serving the relocated dining area -- defined by a new built-in banquette in a new bay window -- was designed to back up on the existing wood-burning fireplace that continues to serve the living area. A shared full bath, serving two guest bedrooms on the main level, was reconfigured, and additional square footage was captured for a reconfigured master bathroom off the existing master bedroom. A new whole-house color palette, including new finishes and new cabinetry, complete the transformation. Today, the owners enjoy a fresh and airy re-imagining of their familiar ranch house. Photos by Katie Hutchison

An example of vital and immersive living space for plants, wildlife and people. Design-built in summer 2022, our team (including talented local stonemason Matt Nichols) worked hard to reimagine an outdoor living space that integrates a dining area, hot tub, gathering space and raised beds. We were also tasked with successfully mitigating stormwater runoff that now channels from the rear to a rain garden in the front. A relaxed delineation of space allows for an easy ebb and flow for this young family and its pets. Cohesive materials were used throughout (such as the gorgeous irregular chunk stone steppers and retaining wall encompassing the cedar hot tub) to elevate this redesign. Over time, these designed living ‘rooms’ for people will recede into the planted habitat to feel ever more intimate and natural.

This project presented very unique challenges: the customer wanted to "open" the kitchen to the living room so that the room could be inclusive, while not losing the vital pantry space. The solution was to remove the former load bearing wall and pantry and build a custom island so the profile of the doors and drawers seamlessly matched with the current kitchen. Additionally, we had to locate the granite for the island to match the existing countertops. The results are, well, incredible!

Tony Vitale
Design ideas for a modern landscaping in San Diego.

This project presented very unique challenges: the customer wanted to "open" the kitchen to the living room so that the room could be inclusive, while not losing the vital pantry space. The solution was to remove the former load bearing wall and pantry and build a custom island so the profile of the doors and drawers seamlessly matched with the current kitchen. Additionally, we had to locate the granite for the island to match the existing countertops. The results are, well, incredible!

An example of vital and immersive living space for plants, wildlife and people. Design-built in summer 2022, our team (including talented local stonemason Matt Nichols) worked hard to reimagine an outdoor living space that integrates a dining area, hot tub, gathering space and raised beds. We were also tasked with successfully mitigating stormwater runoff that now channels from the rear to a rain garden in the front. A relaxed delineation of space allows for an easy ebb and flow for this young family and its pets. Cohesive materials were used throughout (such as the gorgeous irregular chunk stone steppers and retaining wall encompassing the cedar hot tub) to elevate this redesign. Over time, these designed living ‘rooms’ for people will recede into the planted habitat to feel ever more intimate and natural.

Tony Vitale
Inspiration for a modern landscaping in San Diego.

This project presented very unique challenges: the customer wanted to "open" the kitchen to the living room so that the room could be inclusive, while not losing the vital pantry space. The solution was to remove the former load bearing wall and pantry and build a custom island so the profile of the doors and drawers seamlessly matched with the current kitchen. Additionally, we had to locate the granite for the island to match the existing countertops. The results are, well, incredible!

This project presented very unique challenges: the customer wanted to "open" the kitchen to the living room so that the room could be inclusive, while not losing the vital pantry space. The solution was to remove the former load bearing wall and pantry and build a custom island so the profile of the doors and drawers seamlessly matched with the current kitchen. Additionally, we had to locate the granite for the island to match the existing countertops. The results are, well, incredible!

This project presented very unique challenges: the customer wanted to "open" the kitchen to the living room so that the room could be inclusive, while not losing the vital pantry space. The solution was to remove the former load bearing wall and pantry and build a custom island so the profile of the doors and drawers seamlessly matched with the current kitchen. Additionally, we had to locate the granite for the island to match the existing countertops. The results are, well, incredible!

Constructed in two phases, this renovation, with a few small additions, touched nearly every room in this late ‘50’s ranch house. The owners raised their family within the original walls and love the house’s location, which is not far from town and also borders conservation land. But they didn’t love how chopped up the house was and the lack of exposure to natural daylight and views of the lush rear woods. Plus, they were ready to de-clutter for a more stream-lined look. As a result, KHS collaborated with them to create a quiet, clean design to support the lifestyle they aspire to in retirement. To transform the original ranch house, KHS proposed several significant changes that would make way for a number of related improvements. Proposed changes included the removal of the attached enclosed breezeway (which had included a stair to the basement living space) and the two-car garage it partially wrapped, which had blocked vital eastern daylight from accessing the interior. Together the breezeway and garage had also contributed to a long, flush front façade. In its stead, KHS proposed a new two-car carport, attached storage shed, and exterior basement stair in a new location. The carport is bumped closer to the street to relieve the flush front facade and to allow access behind it to eastern daylight in a relocated rear kitchen. KHS also proposed a new, single, more prominent front entry, closer to the driveway to replace the former secondary entrance into the dark breezeway and a more formal main entrance that had been located much farther down the facade and curiously bordered the bedroom wing. Inside, low ceilings and soffits in the primary family common areas were removed to create a cathedral ceiling (with rod ties) over a reconfigured semi-open living, dining, and kitchen space. A new gas fireplace serving the relocated dining area -- defined by a new built-in banquette in a new bay window -- was designed to back up on the existing wood-burning fireplace that continues to serve the living area. A shared full bath, serving two guest bedrooms on the main level, was reconfigured, and additional square footage was captured for a reconfigured master bathroom off the existing master bedroom. A new whole-house color palette, including new finishes and new cabinetry, complete the transformation. Today, the owners enjoy a fresh and airy re-imagining of their familiar ranch house. Photos by Katie Hutchison

Design ideas for a mediterranean landscaping in San Luis Obispo.

Constructed in two phases, this renovation, with a few small additions, touched nearly every room in this late ‘50’s ranch house. The owners raised their family within the original walls and love the house’s location, which is not far from town and also borders conservation land. But they didn’t love how chopped up the house was and the lack of exposure to natural daylight and views of the lush rear woods. Plus, they were ready to de-clutter for a more stream-lined look. As a result, KHS collaborated with them to create a quiet, clean design to support the lifestyle they aspire to in retirement. To transform the original ranch house, KHS proposed several significant changes that would make way for a number of related improvements. Proposed changes included the removal of the attached enclosed breezeway (which had included a stair to the basement living space) and the two-car garage it partially wrapped, which had blocked vital eastern daylight from accessing the interior. Together the breezeway and garage had also contributed to a long, flush front façade. In its stead, KHS proposed a new two-car carport, attached storage shed, and exterior basement stair in a new location. The carport is bumped closer to the street to relieve the flush front facade and to allow access behind it to eastern daylight in a relocated rear kitchen. KHS also proposed a new, single, more prominent front entry, closer to the driveway to replace the former secondary entrance into the dark breezeway and a more formal main entrance that had been located much farther down the facade and curiously bordered the bedroom wing. Inside, low ceilings and soffits in the primary family common areas were removed to create a cathedral ceiling (with rod ties) over a reconfigured semi-open living, dining, and kitchen space. A new gas fireplace serving the relocated dining area -- defined by a new built-in banquette in a new bay window -- was designed to back up on the existing wood-burning fireplace that continues to serve the living area. A shared full bath, serving two guest bedrooms on the main level, was reconfigured, and additional square footage was captured for a reconfigured master bathroom off the existing master bedroom. A new whole-house color palette, including new finishes and new cabinetry, complete the transformation. Today, the owners enjoy a fresh and airy re-imagining of their familiar ranch house. Photos by Katie Hutchison